Delay in budget deadline approved in preliminary reading

The Knesset voted 56 to 41 for the Derech Eretz bill for a 100-day postponement from the August 24 deadline for presenting the state budget, to allow negotiates on a compromise on the ruling parties dispute.  Likud stands by approval of a one-year budget for the remainder of 2020, while Kahol Lavan insists on the government tabling a 2020-2021 draft. The bill now goes to three readings for its passage.

Without this legislation, missing the Aug 24 deadline would force the government to step down and precipitate a new general election in November.